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Washington , DC
Howard University is a prestigious and historically black university located in Washington, D.C. Founded in 1867, it is recognized as one of the top national research institutions in the United States. With a strong emphasis on academic excellence, cultural diversity, and social justice, Howard University offers a wide range of undergraduate, graduate, and professional programs across various disciplines.
The university's academic strengths are particularly notable in the fields of medicine, law, business, engineering, and communications. It is well-regarded for its Howard University Hospital, College of Medicine, and School of Law, which have produced many successful alumni who have made significant contributions to their respective fields. Additionally, Howard has a reputation for its highly regarded fine arts programs, including its School of Communications, which has educated notable figures in the entertainment industry.
Beyond its academic offerings, Howard University is known for its vibrant campus life and commitment to social justice. It embraces a rich cultural tradition, celebrates diversity, and fosters an inclusive community. The university hosts numerous student organizations, clubs, and extracurricular activities that provide students with opportunities for personal growth, leadership development, and community engagement. Furthermore, Howard's location in the nation's capital allows students to take advantage of unique internships, networking opportunities, and interactions with policymakers and leaders in various industries.
Located in Washington, DC and set in an urban environment, Howard University is a private university. This academic institution uses a semester-based calendar. It has an acceptance rate of 41%. The freshman retention rate at Howard University is 90.6% and the six-year graduation rate is 53%.
For freshmen, the application deadline for this school is February 15. For transfer students, the application deadline is November 15.
Here are some essential information on important things to consider about Howard University.
Quick Facts
11,519
Total Number of Undergraduate Students
$35,344
Tuition
13:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
53%
Graduation Rate
Admissions
If you learn as much as possible about the institution's criteria for admission, your chances of getting accepted will greatly improve. What are the admission requirements for Howard University?
According to the newest data, this institution uses standardized test scores for admission and it admitted 14,144 in 2025. Howard University has an official test-optional admission policy but takes into consideration standardized test scores in cases when they are submitted by the candidate. Looking at entrance difficulty level for all or most incoming freshmen, based on data self-reported by the institution this school is moderately difficult to get into.
Test Scores
47% of first-time, first-year degree-seeking students submitted their SAT scores for admission, and 16% submitted ACT scores, out of the total number of those who submitted test scores. 5.95% of the first-year students submitted SAT composite scores between 1,400 and 1,600, 31.14% between 1,200 and 1,399, 48.83% between 1,000 and 1,199, 13.69% of the students between 800 and 999, and 0.39% between 600 and 799. The percent of freshmen who submitted ACT Composite scores in the range between 30-36 was 20.6, 48.2 between 24-29, 28.2 in the range between 18-23, and 7.9 between 12-17.
The ACT composite average score for all the accepted students in 2025 was 25 and the average GPA was 3.75. Therefore, the chances are that you'll need a GPA higher than the average for acceptance, and the same goes for your ACT score.
The new students had an average SAT Critical Reading score of 611 and an average SAT Math score of 593.
Deadlines
The last day for submitting applications to this school is February 15. For transfer students, the application deadline is November 15.
Retention Rate
What is the freshman retention rate? The freshman retention rate is the percentage of full-time students who entered the institution as freshmen in the previous academic year and returned for the fall term of the current academic year. Why is that information important? Because it tells you if the majority of freshmen enjoyed their first year at a school enough to come back.
The freshman retention rate for Howard University was 90.6% in 2025, which is an amazing retention rate only the most prestigious institutions have.
Another important metric to consider is the graduation rate. This rate indicates how many students finish their degrees within a certain timeframe. The six-year graduation rate at this institution stands at 53%.
Student Body
Deciding if a school is the right fit for you is not an easy task. You can have a better understanding of the school's culture and way of life by finding out more about the student body.
Main Student Body
In 2025, the school had an enrollment of 14,890 students.
The school reported an out-of-state student body portion of 95.11% for that year. The total number of undergraduate students enrolled at the institution was 11,519, 451 of which were foreign students. 190 students were admitted as transfer students.
Student Population Gender Ratio
The student body is coeducational, with 3,611 male and 9,101 female full-time students in 2025, which is indicative of the importance this institution places on gender equality. 863 full-time graduate men and 1,774 full-time graduate women attended this school.
Student Population Diversity
Higher Education is dedicated to increasing student diversity and enhancing students' feelings of inclusion and belonging. A heterogeneous student body brings together individuals from different backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives. Discover more about the many ethnic communities that go to this school.
In 2025, out of the total number of students enrolled at the institution, the number of Asian students was 148, and the number of Black American students was 7,764. 694 undergraduate students at this school identified as Hispanic/Latino and 542 as multirace. The school also had 4 students who identified as Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, as well as 11 American Indian or Alaska Native students. There were also 473 students whose ethnicity is unknown.
Cost
One of the most crucial things to take into account when applying to any college or university is the financial component. Here are some details you should know about the expenses at Howard University that the majority of students face.
Tuition and Fees
Here are some numbers that can help you better understand the estimated tuition cost for this university.
As a full-time domestic student, you were required to pay tuition of $35,344 in 2025. As this is a private institution, tuition is the same for all the accepted students. Full-time students in 2025 needed to pay additional fees in the amount of $466.
Books and Supplies
When you try to estimate the cost of attendance for a college or university, you need to think about the cost of books and supplies you're going to need. The cost of books and supplies for full-time students of this school is estimated at about $1,360.
Boarding
Before you apply to a college or university, you should, among other things, think about the price of a dorm room and cafeteria meals. What is the typical amount colleges and universities charge for lodging and meals?
The cost of room and board (on campus) per academic year at Howard University was $17,322 in 2025. Room-only (on campus) cost per academic year at this school reached $11,152, according to the data from 2025. The estimated expense of room-only (on campus) for commuters not living at home was $17,810.
| Expense Category | Amount |
|---|---|
| Tuition | $ 35,344 |
| Room and Board | $ 17,322 |
| Book and Supplies | $ 1,360 |
| Total Expense | $ 54,026 |
Financial Aid
There are different types of financial aid: grants, loans, scholarships, and work-study programs. If you wish to find out more about need-based and non-need-based aid at Howard University, here are some recent data you should consider.
The most recent records show that 1,785 freshmen received some sort of financial help. The average financial aid package awarded to students came to $25,069.
Need-based
If you need help with paying for your studies and you meet some eligibility requirements, you may be eligible for need-based aid.
There were 5,229 students who attained need-based financial aid of any kind. Need-based college-administered scholarship and grant aid at Howard University is available to international students. The total number of students (including freshmen) who were determined to have financial need ended up being 7,086. The amount of federal need-based scholarships/grants awarded to the students at this institution added up to $24,494,216, and state $122,500. The students of Howard University received the -institutional need-based aid in the amount of $20,644,770, and external in the amount of $13,000.
$15,522
Average Amount of Aid Received
Non-Need Based
Any financial aid given to a student who does not meet the requirements for need-based aid is considered non-need-based aid. Most students get non-need-based financial aid as Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans, Graduate PLUS Loans, Parent PLUS Loans, and the TEACH Grant.
Institutional non-need-based scholarships or grants were given to 5,932 students overall (including freshmen) at Howard University in 2025. Institutional help in the form of non-need-based scholarships or grants was given to 1,745 full-time freshmen. Federal non-need-based scholarships and grants totaled $24,494,216 for students at this institution, while state aid came to $231,542. The total amount of non-need-based institutional scholarships/grants was $135,192,566. This includes endowment, alumni, other institutional awards, and also external funds awarded by the institution, but doesn't include athletic aid and tuition waivers. The amount the students of this school received from external sources (e.g. Kiwanis, National Merit) was $830,175 USD.
Open Applications
Find open programs by choosing your preferred academic interest from the list below, and select your desired term start. Get started with your application process and find more information using the Apply button.
The Common Application for Transfer (Common App for transfer)
Majors
Faculty
13:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
The student-to-faculty or student-to-professor ratio is the number of students compared to the number of professors at a school.
According to the most recent data, the student-faculty ratio at Howard University was 13:1: that means 13 students per one teacher, which is considered a good ratio. The total number of faculty teaching at the institution is 932. This number included 437 men and 486 women. The fact that female faculty members outnumber the male ones at this school speaks volumes for gender equality at Howard University.
Student Population Diversity Graph
Campus Life
It is not all about learning and grades at Howard University: campus life is a crucial component of your educational experience. Check out some details about campus life at Howard University.
It has a campus size of 257 acres.
Student Organizations
Being a member of a student organization will make you connect better with your fellow students and enjoy your college years more.
The number of student organizations and groups with open membership at this school is 150. That includes sororities and fraternities. 8 percent of male and 6 of female students participate in different organizations at Howard University. The student organization that has the biggest membership is Entrepreneurial Society, Howard University, followed by International Student Organization and Campus Pals. Other popular student organizations at this school are Undergraduate Student Assembly and Howard University Student Association.
If you are interested in music, you can join the Howard University band or chorus. For students with a talent for acting, there is a drama club. For students interested in media and communication, Howard University publishes its own newspaper and has its own radio station.
Student Services
At Howard University, there are many amenities that make life on campus pleasant and safe.
There are phone and alarm devices that can be accessed 24/7 for emergency situations. Dormitory entrances at the school are electronically operated. There is a round-the-clock security patrol. The after-hours transportation/escort service is available.
This school has a health clinic with personal/psychological counseling. In addition, other services like Legal Services, Veteran's Affairs and Women's Center are available to the students of Howard University.
All in all, campus life at Howard University is rich and vibrant and provides all you need for a comfortable stay.
Career Services
Having career services at a college or university can mean a great deal for your career planning, so find out what you can expect at Howard University.
Career Counselling
At Howard University, there is both group career counseling for all students and individual career counseling for all students. There are a library, a job bank, and job fairs. Job interviews are also available to students through the career center. The career center offers resume preparation and resume referral to employers. There is campus employer recruitment for all the students. This school offers alumni networking opportunities, which could be a great asset for your future career. Individual job placement is available to all students at this school.
FAQ
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Howard University is located in Washington, DC.
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Howard University offers need-based college-administered scholarship and grant aid to international students.
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According to the latest information, the tuition for Howard University is 35,344 USD a year.
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This school uses standardized test scores for admission.
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The most recent reported acceptance rate for Howard University is 41%.
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According to the latest information, the freshman retention rate for Howard University is 90.6%.
Contact Information
Data Source: IPEDS and Peterson's Databases © 2023 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved. Portions of this content were co-written with OpenAI's GPT-3.5 model.
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Data Source: IPEDS and Peterson's Databases © 2023 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved.
Portions of this content were co-written with OpenAI's GPT-3.5 model.